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Institute On Elections 2019 and Political Journalism

23-28 Feb 2019

02:30-05:30 PM

New Delhi

The “Institute on Elections 2019 and Political Journalism” will be held from 23-28 February 2019, in New Delhi at the India International Centre, Annexe Building (Lecture Room II). The course will run from 2:30-5:30 PM on each day.The course co-conveners are Om Thanvi (Award-winning journalist, former Editor of Jansatta, Consulting Editor of Rajasthan Patrika Group) and Pamela Philipose (Award-winning journalist, Public Editor of The Wire, and author of the new book, ‘Media’s Shifting Terrain’). Apart from Mr. Thanvi’s and Ms Philipose’s lectures, there will be a rich offering of talks by experts and panel discussions featuring distinguished academics, senior journalists, and other public figures. Guest speakers will include the former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand, senior journalist Neerja Chowdhury, and other eminent minds.

CURRICULUM AND TOPICS

The course will give participants a deep dive into the topic of “Elections 2019 and Political Journalism”, through lectures, panel discussions, readings, informal discussion opportunities, and an optional assignment.

Tentative titles of the sessions for the six days are:

Introduction to the topic: Political Journalism and General Election 2019; what makes great election coverage; looking back on past elections and their coverage;

The Election Commission; election Laws; social media as election influencers and disruptors;

How India Votes: Data and elections; the view of Indian elections from abroad;

Election contests in the Hindi heartland; Experiences of covering the most recent state elections;

Gender and Politics; Innovations in election communication;

What to expect from General Election 2019;

Instruction for the course will be in a combination of English and Hindi. Academic readings will be in English. Journalistic readings will be in Hindi and English. A typical day of the course will entail a lecture, a tea break that will facilitate community/ network building, and a panel discussion.The exact readings and the topic for the optional assignment are to be announced. Participants who choose to carry out the assignment will receive detailed feedback on their work.

Participants will leave the course with a more rigorous understanding of political journalism; a deeper capacity to engage with the news; a dynamic, lifelong network comprising fellow participants, the co-conveners, and guest speakers; a Certificate of Completion; the opportunity to publish their optional assignment – if adjudged outstanding – on the Academe India website; and more.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Enrolment in the course will be on a first-come, first-served basis. All who are first-year college students and older, of any academic or professional background, are eligible for the course. We anticipate participants from diverse backgrounds – students, journalists, lawyers, writers, publishers, public relations personnel, business people, other members of the general public – from Delhi and from across the country.

Prospective participants will need to be able to comprehend both spoken Hindi and spoken English in order to be able to take the course.